Geranium plant named Pink Silver Crown

ABSTRACT

A geranium plant named Pink Silver Crown, characterized by its pink flower color, variegated green and white leaves, short leaf internodes, good branching, and compact growth habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geraniumnamed Pink Silver Crown. The new geranium is of the botanical speciesPelargonium peltatum, commonly referred to as an ivy geraniumcharacterized by its trailing growth habit and generally ivy-shapedleaves.

Pink Silver Crown is a sport discovered by applicant in a controlledenvironment in Hyde Park, Ontario, Canada in February 1984. The parentwas a trailing ivy geranium which has pink flowers, green non-variegatedleaves, and long internodes. The precise identification and name of theparent cultivar are not known at this time. Pink Silver Crown wasdiscoverd as one flowering plant within a bed of parent plants.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Pink Silver Crown wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken in April, 1984 in acontrolled environment in Hyde Park, Ontario, Canada by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by applicant.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in October, 1984has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Pink Silver Crown are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough sucessive generations of asexual reproduction. Pink Silver Crownhas not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity, and day length. The followingobservations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inHyde Park, Ontario, Canada under conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Pink Silver Crown, which in combinationdistinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Variegated leaf which consists of a white margin, a medium greencenter, and a light green zone intermediate the center and the margin.

2. Short leaf internodes.

3. Pink flower color.

4. Compact growth habit.

5. Fast rooting.

6. No growth treatment is necessary for quality plant production.

7. Good branching.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Pink Silver Crown are Pink-Mini-Cascade andPink Cascade. Reference is made to attached Chart A which comparescertain characteristics of Pink Silver Crown to those samecharacteristics of Pink-Mini-Cascade and Pink Cascade. The measurementsand comparative information appearing on Chart A was based on twelve(12) separate plants of each of the compared cultivars, with the numbersappearing being the average of the twelve measurements. Generally, incomparison to Pink-Mini-Cascade, Pink Silver Crown has variegatedleaves, longer internodes, and less branching. In comparison to PinkCascade, Pink Silver Crown has variegated leaves, shorter internodes,and better branching. The flower color of all of the compared varietiesis approximately the same.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of Pink Silver Crown. The photograph is in black andwhite, with a complete flower and several leaves being colored toaccurately depict flower and foliage colors.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 2:20 and 2:40 p.m. on June 24, 1986 under diffused light atHamilton, Canada.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium peltatum.

Commercial.--Ivy geranium, cv. Pink Silver Crown.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.66 mm.

Average depth.50 mm.

Peduncle length.106 mm.

Pedicel length.--32 mm.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--39 mm.

Form.--5 petal single; nearly round.

Color.--Upper surface: The top 2 petals are perceptively a more vividpink 55A than the bottom three petals which are approximately 54B. Undersurface: slightly lighter than values noted above.

C. Bud: Elongated, elliptical in shape

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--6 stamens.

Gynoecium.--5 lobes on stigma, color red; style light pink in color.

E. Spring flowering response period: In Hyde Park, Canada, nearly 100%of plants flowered within 13 weeks after planting unrooted cuttings.

F. Outdoor flower production: The flower count in Hyde Park, Canada in1986 was an average of 29 flowers per plant (range was 15-54) for Junethrough September observed period. The wet summer was not ideal forflower production.

G. Durability: Minimum 10 days; shatter resistance good.

PLANT

A. Foliage:

Form.--5 lobed.

Margin.--Serrated.

Color.--The leaf has a white margin and a green 147B center. Theintermediate zone between the edge and the center is approximately 147C.

Tolerance of botrytis.--Good.

B. General appearance and form:

Internode length.--21 mm.

Branching pattern.--Good; 3.25 branches per plant.

Height.--194 mm.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                               PINK      PINK                                                                SILVER    MINI        PINK                                                    CROWN     CASCADE     CASCADE                                          ______________________________________                                        Corolla  55 A (top   55 A top    55 A top                                     color    2 petals)                                                                     54 B (bottom                                                                              54 B bottom 54 B bottom                                           3 petals)                                                            Spring   100%        100%        100%                                         flowering                                                                     response                                                                      Branching                                                                              3.25        6.67        1.75                                         Internode                                                                               20.58 mm   14.92 mm     35.08 mm                                    length                                                                        Leaf     Yes         No          No                                           variegation                                                                   Umbel     66.25 mm   68.17 mm     70.08 mm                                    average                                                                       diameter                                                                      Umbel     49.50 mm   48.25 mm     51.83 mm                                    average                                                                       depth                                                                         Peduncle 106.42 mm   90.67 mm    116.58 mm                                    length                                                                        Pedicel   32.08 mm   31.58 mm     31.00 mm                                    length                                                                        Corolla   39.42 mm   37.08 mm     38.75 mm                                    average                                                                       diameter                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct geranium plant named Pink Silver Crown,as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its pinkflower color, variegated green and white leaves, short leaf internodes,good branching, and compact growth habit.